John Aldridge claims Arne Slot has made a ‘mistake’ ahead of Liverpool’s big game with Everton

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool need to put Sunday’s FA Cup fourth round defeat out of their minds as they head into a busy run of fixtures.

The Reds had been expected to comfortably beat Plymouth Argyle, but saw a heavily rotated team lose 1-0 at Home Park.

Given the fringe nature of the travelling Liverpool squad, it is unlikely that the defeat will have too much bearing on Wednesday’s Merseyside Derby.

Of the 14 players who featured against Plymouth, perhaps only one of them – likely Darwin Nunez – is set to start against Everton.

In fact, plenty of them will not be given game time at all, with a number set to drop back into the Liverpool academy teams.

Nevertheless, given the must-win nature of Wednesday’s game, former Liverpool striker John Aldridge has claimed that Arne Slot has just ramped up the pressure on those who do play at Everton.

John Aldridge calls out Arne Slot ‘mistake’

People will have differing views on Slot’s selection process for Sunday’s match. Had Liverpool won, the Dutchman would have no doubt been hailed for his use of the squad.

However, defeat has a way of framing decisions, and with 10 likely starters not even travelling on Sunday, the Liverpool head coach has been accused of disrespecting Plymouth and the FA Cup itself.

Probably the biggest gripe was that Slot could have at least had a few more senior players on the Liverpool bench.

And according to Aldridge, leaving them out entirely actually adds more pressure on the Reds to get the right result at Goodison Park.

READ MORE: Arne Slot reveals the ‘only thing’ he was happy about during Liverpool’s shock FA Cup defeat to Plymouth

“I think Arne has made his 1st and hopefully his last mistake today!!” the former striker wrote on X. “I thought when I seen the bench if things went pear shaped there was no back up to retract it!!

“It puts pressure on the team that’s had plenty of rest to show it and match or outfight EFC on Wednesday night and if we do that then we should get the result and physical performance that Arnes planned for folks.”

Who will play for Liverpool against Everton?

One thing is for sure, Liverpool will be fielding a much, much different team during Wednesday’s derby clash.

Injuries permitting, the whole of the back five will be different, with Alisson Becker, Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate set to return.

Trent Alexander-Arnold looks set to miss out after Conor Bradley was rested on Sunday and the Northern Irishman seems likely to get the nod as a result.

Slot’s first choice midfield will surely be restored, meaning Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai return.

Meanwhile, we think Nunez will keep his place, with Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo either side of him. All change, but the pressure would have been on whatever Slot did on Sunday.